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Heart Health Worst in the South, Best in Northeast

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Residents of several
Southern states are among the most likely to have poor heart health
in the United States, a new study finds.

But the country as a whole is having trouble. Only about 3
percent of U.S. adults surveyed who don't have heart problems
managed to meet all of seven criteria for cardiac well-being, such
as ideal levels of weight, blood pressure, physical activity and
diet.

On the other side, nearly 10 percent of those surveyed were in
poor shape heart-wise, meeting two or fewer of the requirements.
That number reached 16 percent in West Virginia, 14 percent in
Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky, and 13 percent in Louisiana.

"Disparity continues to exist in cardiovascular health in America, not just by social demographics like race, gender, age and education level, but also by state," said study lead author Dr. Jing Fang, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the United States, heart disease is responsible for an
estimated one-third of all deaths. However, researchers say death
levels for cardiovascular disease have fallen significantly over
the last four decades, and a lot of that has to do with people
taking better care of their health.

The new study is based on a survey of more than 350,000 people
in 2009 who didn't have existing heart disease or previous strokes.
The study authors acknowledged that its design has a weakness
because it relies on people's perceptions of their health instead
of medical records.

The investigators examined whether the participants met seven
criteria for ideal cardiac health set by the American Heart
Association: no high blood pressure; no high cholesterol; no
diabetes; a healthy weight; no smoking; at least 150 minutes a week
of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical
activity; and a diet with five or more servings of fruit and
vegetables a day.

The researchers adjusted their statistics so they wouldn't be
thrown off by high or low numbers of participants of certain
ages.

The state with the lowest percentage of residents with ideal
cardiac health -- 1 percent -- was Oklahoma. Washington, D.C.,
topped the list with nearly 7 percent, followed by the states of
Vermont and Connecticut (nearly 6 percent) and Virginia (5
percent).

Why were people in such relatively good shape in Washington,
D.C., which is largely populated by black Americans who often have
poor heart health? Fang said the city stands out because it has low
levels of obesity and high levels of people with healthy diets.

Residents in some Southern states, particularly in the Deep
South, had higher levels of obesity, high blood pressure and
smoking, she said.

It's clear that southerners are at higher risk of heart
problems, according to health researchers who have identified a
"stroke belt" in the South, where strokes are more common than
elsewhere in the country. It includes North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and
Louisiana.

What can be done with the study findings? Donna Arnett,
president of the American Heart Association and chair of
epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said the
findings are crucial to gauge the progress of her association's
project to improve the country's heart health by 20 percent by
2020.

As for states, "they should be empowered to tailor their
[health] programs to their population's specific needs," she
added.

But what about states, such as some of those in the South, that
are poor? "If funds are limited, it may not be about doing more,
but doing smarter," Arnett said.

The study was published Dec. 19 in the
Journal of the American Heart Association.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.